Contrary to what many people think, Jesus taught about resurrection in three perspectives: The resurrection from spiritual death, the resurrection of purified spirits to life in the kingdom of God, and the resurrection unto condemnation.

The resurrection from spiritual death is the awakening of the human spirit on earth from spiritual slumber, by the power of the Holy Word: “The hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live” (John 5:25). The context of the above scripture describes the spiritually dead on earth, not dead bodies in the graves. It refers to those who Paul said were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The voice of the Son of God is the life giving message brought by Jesus for the salvation of man. The people who receive the message of Jesus and make It become a part of them are risen from death to a new life in Christ. This is the resurrection from spiritual slumber. Apostle Paul admonished those who are so risen, to set their affections on their spiritual up-building: “If you then are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…Set your affection on things which are above, not on things on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). The resurrection of purified spirits is what John called the first resurrection. This is the actual emergence of the human spirit from the material world to life in the spiritual realm, after physical death. Only the people who live in accordance with the Will of God can partake in this resurrection (John 5:29a; Revelation 20:4&6; Daniel 12:2a). The resurrection to condemnation is the judgment of the wicked, which will come after the Millennial kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:5; John 5:29b; Daniel 12:2b). This is the Final Verdict. In it, the people who did not rise upwards, but were compelled to sink into the regions of darkness because of their activities while on earth, will be cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death and eternal condemnation (Revelation 20:13-15).

Jesus did not teach about the rising of material bodies into heaven as many people have come to understand. Certain questions arise within me each time I reflect over this: Where have the faithful believers like John, Peter, Stephen, Paul and others been, since their departure from the earth? In the grave waiting to be resurrected and raptured? If we reason that these Matyrs may have already ascended to their spiritual home, will the Almighty God then in all His wisdom, resurrect and transform their long decayed bodies, and release their already ascended spirits into those bodies, just for them to rise again and return back to the same place? Would that make for perfection? Does the human spirit require a physical body to operate in a spiritual heaven? The answer is a definite no! Heaven is a spiritual place, and the nature of the physical body is not consistent with it. The physical body came from the material world, and must be shed off for decay in the material world. It must return back to dust (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Only the spirit came from heaven, and only the spirit will return back to heaven.

Martha expressed her grief over Lazarus’ death when she said to Jesus: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). What she earnestly desired at this point was for her brother to return to life on earth. But when Jesus said: “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23), she mistook the “rising” for bodily ascension into the kingdom of God: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). This shows that the subject of the resurrection has been misunderstood for Ages. Jesus noted this lack of understanding, and quickly pointed Martha to the truth: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he was dead shall live; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Here Jesus implied, that resurrection entails more than what we understand. He pointed Martha to two aspects of resurrection: the awakening from spiritual slumber by His Word (John 11:25), and the spiritual ascension into everlasting life, of the people who make vital use of His Word to work out their salvation (John 11:26).

“I am the resurrection and the life”, points us to the simple fact that resurrection is not a bodily ascension into the spiritual realm. We have to understand, that Jesus cannot be personally separated from the Word of God. He and the Word are the same. By saying He is the resurrection and the life, He implied, that it is the Word of God that brings the spiritually dead back to life. The spiritually dead, who receives the Word of God will be awakened to life in Christ. Many have a record of being alive, but are spiritually dead. Though they are in church, and have confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they live contrary to His Will. If such people can receive the Word and live in harmony with It, they will be awakened back to life, in fulfillment of the scripture: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25).

When Paul said the dead in Christ shall rise first (1Thessalonians 4:16), he did not refer to the rising of physical bodies from the grave, but to the actual uplifting of purified human spirits, after physical death, into the realms of life. This uplifting to life, of the people who were purified through the Word, must precede that of the people “who are alive and remain” (1Thessalonians 4:17). To remain on earth means, that one is physically alive, but to be alive, and at the same time remain on earth means, more. It means, to be alive in Christ, while one still exists on earth. It means, to be spiritually and physically alive. The people who are alive and still remain on earth are those who will be found worthy to partake in the thousand-year kingdom of God on earth. These are those who suffered for the sake of the Word, and who did not abandon the Pure Word of God to dance around the false prophets, for the satisfaction of their needs. After their physical death, their spirits will also emerge from the material world and ascend into their spiritual home, to be with those who preceded them.

The much talked about rapture is not a word found in the scriptures! The English dictionary defines it as a feeling of extreme pleasure and happiness. Rapture is therefore, a state of being elated, or uplifted in the spirit. The closest word to the rapture in the scriptures is “caught up”. To be caught up to heaven means, to be spiritually lifted from the earth into lighter and higher regions.

Every man on earth must experience death of the physical body, in fulfillment of the scripture: “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). In other words, the physical body must be dropped on earth to release the soul for the journey ahead. The believer who imagines that his physical body will be transformed and lifted into heaven, lacks the right understanding of the above scripture. Only the spirit can ascend back to the spiritual realm.

The way to understand the rapture is to see it in the spiritual sense. Those who receive and live by the Pure Word of God do gradually but consistently, purify themselves. In doing this, they shed off their spiritual weight and become light enough to be lifted into the mansions above. To be raptured therefore means, to spiritually emerge from the material world and be caught up to the realms of light and life. I call to you therefore, to purify yourself in your thoughts, words and deeds. Keep your spiritual garment clean, so you can become spiritually light, ready to be caught up (Revelation 22:14).

So what of Enoch and Elijah who didn't die but were transformed and lifted into heaven?

Wakeupchristian:

Every man on earth must experience death of the physical body, in fulfillment of the scripture: “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). In other words, the physical body must be dropped on earth to release the soul for the journey ahead. The believer who imagines that his physical body will be transformed and lifted into heaven, lacks the right understanding of the above scripture. Only the spirit can ascend back to the spiritual realm.

No nawn. . .The Bible teaches about being caught up alive bodily. . . Remember Paul was expecting the rapture "caught up" in his own generation

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


.

petra1:


No nawn. . .The Bible teaches about being caught up alive bodily. . . Remember Paul was expecting the rapture "caught up" in his own generation

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


.

I think you need to go through the message again to understand what it means to "be alive and remain" , and to be caught up. To be caught up does not require the physical body. Examine the scriptures objectively with an open mind and it will open to you. You don't have to run with the crowd.

edmaraja:
So what of Enoch and Elijah who didn't die but were transformed and lifted into heaven?

The case of Enoch and Elijah is a separate message which will be posted soon. But before then you can reflect over it a little and listen to your spirit which connects to the spiritual to open up the word to you. Note that whatever does not align with the laws of God does not portray God's perfection.
Jesus said the word is spirit and it is life. If the word is spirit, then effort should be made to understand it in the spiritual sense, not otherwise

Wakeupchristian:

I think you need to go through the message again to understand what it means to "be alive and remain" , and to be caught up. To be caught up does not require the physical body. Examine the scriptures objectively with an open mind and it will open to you. You don't have to run with the crowd.

No you need to check your theology. practice taking the scriptures for what it says pls

Wakeupchristian:

The case of Enoch and Elijah is a separate message which will be posted soon. But before then you can reflect over it a little and listen to your spirit which connects to the spiritual to open up the word to you. Note that whatever does not align with the laws of God does not portray God's perfection.
Jesus said the word is spirit and it is life. If the word is spirit, then effort should be made to understand it in the spiritual sense, not otherwise

Enoch's life was taken by God so that he will not have to face that wicked generation while Elijah was transported to another destination.
Jesus cleared any doubt about this two persons when he said:

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 3:13

The above is Jesus' own words so they never got to heaven because they are descendants of Adam who inherited sin from birth! Romans 3:23

petra1:


No you need to check your theology. practice taking the scriptures for what it says pls

This does not call for arguments. You are not compelled to change what you believe. You are a free will agent. The choice has always been yours to accept or reject what is presented to you. The message is meant for those who truly seek and are willing to learn. I can only wish you a quick awakening to the truth.

petra1:


No nawn. . .The Bible teaches about being caught up alive bodily. . . Remember Paul was expecting the rapture "caught up" in his own generation

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.


.

You missed the word "which are alive". Surely, Paul and the disciples did not rapture.

Dtruthspeaker:


You missed the word "which are alive". Surely, Paul and the disciples did not rapture.

I didn't say they rapture. I said Paul was expecting the rapture in his time also. rapture is not for the resurrected saints only . living saints were expecting the rapture also that's my point

Wakeupchristian:

This does not call for arguments. I can only wish you a quick awakening to the truth.

Okay maybe you're right. buy Can you also be open minded . what if you're wrong